Moscelyne Larkin, American artistic director, dancer. Recipient Dance Magazine award, 1988, Governor Arts award, 1988, Rogers State College Lynn Riggs award, 1989, award of America,1992; named to Tulsa Press Club Headliner award, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, 1979, Tulsa Hall of Fame, 1988, Oklahoma Womens Hall of Fame, 1993, and numerous others.
Background
Edna Moscelyne Larkin was born in Miami, Oklahoma in 1925, the only daughter of Eva Matlagova-Larkin, a young dancer from Russia, and Ruben Larkin, a Shawnee-Peoria Indian. Her mother trained her in ballet until the girl was old enough to move to New York City to further her studies.
Education
Studied with Serge Grigorieff. Studied with Lubov Tchernicheva. Studied with Mikhail Mordkin.
Studied with Vincenzo Celli. Studied with Anatole Vilzak. Doctorate (honorary), University Tulsa, 1991.
Career
lieutenant became a major regional company in the American Southwest and made its New York City debut in 1983. She is portrayed in the mural Flight of Spirit displayed in the Rotunda of the Oklahoma State Capitol building. In 1941, at age 15, Larkin joined Colonel Wassily de Basil"s Original Ballet Russe.
She performed with the company in Europe and the Americas.
Radio City Music Hall often showcased her as a prima ballerina. In 1954 Larkin toured Asia, performing in Alexandra Danilova"s "Great Movements in Dance".
She excelled in comical roles as a soubrette. She played the can-can dancer in Gaîté Parisienne.
Agnes de Mille, the choreographer and dancer, admired Larkin"s performance as the Cowgirl in Aaron Copland"s Rodeo, a role which was premiered by de Mille.
Larkin married Roman Jasinski in 1943. Larkin suffered from Alzheimer"s disease and died in Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 25, 2012 from pneumonia.
Achievements
Membership
Member Southwestern Regional Ballet Association (executive vice president 1963-1976), National Association Regional Ballet.
Connections
Married Roman Jasinski, December 24, 1943 (deceased 1991). 1 child, Roman.
Recipient Dance Magazine award, 1988, Governor Arts award, 1988, Rogers State College Lynn Riggs award, 1989, award of America,1992. Named to Tulsa Press Club Headliner award, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, 1979, Tulsa Hall of Fame, 1988, Oklahoma Womens Hall of Fame, 1993, and numerous others.
Recipient Dance Magazine award, 1988, Governor Arts award, 1988, Rogers State College Lynn Riggs award, 1989, award of America,1992. Named to Tulsa Press Club Headliner award, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, 1979, Tulsa Hall of Fame, 1988, Oklahoma Womens Hall of Fame, 1993, and numerous others.